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Abstract:

A light emitting module board which is compatible with a plurality of
screen sizes and is used for a backlight apparatus of a liquid crystal
display panel is provided. A light emitting module includes a first
connector 15 and a second connector 16, each including a plurality of
cathode terminals and at least one anode terminal, at each end of the
board, and can be connected to another one to each other through the
connectors in multi-level. A cathode wiring 14 for supplying a cathode
control signal includes first cathode wirings which connect the cathode
terminals of the first connector and light emitting bodies to supply a
control signal to the light emitting bodies in the light emitting module,
and second cathode wirings which connect the cathode terminals of the
first and second connectors to supply a control signal to the light
emitting bodies on a downstream light emitting module.

Claims:

1. A light emitting module in which, on a board, an anode control signal
wiring group, a cathode control signal wiring group, and a plurality of
light emitting bodies arranged in a longitudinal direction of the board
are formed, both ends of the board independently have a first connector
and a second connector each configured by a plurality of cathode
terminals and at least one anode terminal, and the second connector of an
upstream stage and the first connector of a downstream stage are
connected to make it possible to realize a multi-level connection,
wherein the anode control signal wiring group includes first anode
wirings one ends of which are connected commonly to one of the anode
terminals of the first connector and the other ends of which are
connected to one ends of all the light emitting bodies on the board, and
a second anode wiring one end of which is connected to any one of the
first anode wirings, the other end of which is connected to one of the
anode terminals of the second connector, and that is not directly
connected to the light emitting bodies on the board, or one end of which
is connected to one of the anode terminals of the first connector and the
other end of which is connected to one of the anode terminals of the
second connector, the cathode control signal wiring group includes a
first cathode wiring group including at least one first cathode wiring
one end of which is connected to one of the cathode terminals of the
first connector and the other end of which is connected to the other end
of one of the light emitting bodies on the board, and a second cathode
wiring group including at least one second cathode wiring one end of
which is connected to one of the cathode terminals of the first
connector, the other end of which is connected to one of the cathode
terminals of the second connector, and that is not connected to the light
emitting bodies on the board, the cathode terminals in the first
connector to which the first cathode wirings of the first cathode wiring
group are connected configure a first cathode terminal group, the cathode
terminals in the first connector to which the second cathode wirings of
the second cathode wiring group are connected configure a second cathode
terminal group, the cathode terminals in the second connector to which
other ends of at least some of the second cathode wirings of the second
cathode wiring group are connected configure a third cathode terminal
group, and the third cathode terminal group is physically located at the
same position as that of the first cathode terminal group of the first
connector of the light emitting module of the same type having the same
number of first cathode wirings or the light emitting module of a
different type having the different number of first cathode wirings.

2. The light emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the second
cathode wiring group includes a third cathode wiring group including the
second cathode wiring that is not connected to the cathode terminals of
the third cathode terminal group.

3. The light emitting module according to claim 2, wherein the cathode
terminals in the first connector to which the second cathode wirings of
the third cathode wiring group are connected configure a fourth cathode
terminal group, the cathode terminals in the second connector to which
the second cathode wirings of the third cathode wiring group are
connected configure a fifth cathode terminal group, and the fourth
cathode terminal group in the first connector and the fifth cathode
terminal group in the second connector are physically located at the same
position.

4. The light emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the number of
second cathode wirings connected to the cathode terminals of the third
cathode terminal group is different from the number of first cathode
wirings.

5. The light emitting module according to claim 1, further comprising: a
plurality of anode terminals in each of the first connector and the
second connector; and an inter-terminal second anode wiring that is the
second anode wiring one end of which is connected to one of the anode
terminals in the first connector, the other end of which is connected to
one of the anode terminals in the second connector, and that is not
connected to the light emitting bodies on the board.

6. The light emitting module according to claim 5, wherein the anode
terminal in the second connector to which one of the inter-terminal
second anode wirings of the second anode wirings is connected is
physically located at the same position as the anode terminal in the
first connector to which the first anode wiring of another light emitting
module is connected.

7. The light emitting module according to claim 5, wherein the first
anode terminal group including the anode terminals in the first connector
to which the inter-terminal second anode wirings of the second anode
wirings are connected is physically located at the same position as the
second anode terminal group including the anode terminals in the second
connector to which the inter-terminal second anode wirings are connected.

8. The light emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the light
emitting body is an LED.

9. A light emitting module unit comprising: a plurality of light emitting
modules each identical with the light emitting module according to claim
1, wherein the light emitting modules are coupled to each other by
connecting the second connector of an upstream stage and the first
connector of a downstream stage to each other.

10. The light emitting module unit according to claim 9, further
comprising a part where the light emitting modules of different types the
numbers of first cathode wirings of which are different from each other
are coupled by connecting the second connector of an upstream stage and
the first connector of a downstream stage to each other.

11. The light emitting module unit according to claim 10, further
comprising a part where the light emitting modules of the same type the
numbers of first cathode wirings of which are equal to each other are
coupled by connecting the second connector of an upstream stage and the
first connector of a downstream stage to each other.

12. A light emitting module unit, wherein a plurality of light emitting
modules of the same type or different types are selected from light
emitting modules of 1 to 5 types at most in each of which an anode
control signal wiring group, a cathode control signal wiring group, and a
plurality of light emitting bodies are formed on a board, and a first
connector and a second connector each including at least one cathode
terminal and at least one anode terminal are formed at end portions of
the board, respectively, and for each of the selected light emitting
modules, the second connector of an upstream stage and the first
connector of a downstream stage are connected to each other to couple the
light emitting modules to each other, so that all the light emitting
bodies in the selected light emitting modules, the cathode terminals of
the first connector in the light emitting module of the most upstream
stage, and the anode terminals of the first connector in the light
emitting module of the most upstream stage are electrically connected.

13. A light emitting module unit, wherein a plurality of light emitting
modules of the same type or different types are selected from light
emitting modules of 1 to 5 types at most in each of which an anode
control signal wiring group, a cathode control signal wiring group, and a
plurality of light emitting bodies are formed on a board, and a first
connector and a second connector each including at least one cathode
terminal and at least one anode terminal are formed at end portions of
the board, respectively, for each of the selected light emitting modules,
the second connector of an upstream stage and the first connector of a
downstream stage are connected to each other to couple the light emitting
modules to each other, so that all the light emitting bodies in the
selected light emitting modules, the cathode terminals of the first
connector in the light emitting module of the most upstream stage, and
the anode terminals of the first connector in the light emitting module
of the most upstream stage are electrically connected, and the light
emitting module is the light emitting module according to claim 1.

14. A backlight apparatus, wherein a plurality of light emitting module
units each identical with the light emitting module unit according to
claim 9 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a coupling direction of
the light emitting modules.

15. A transmission display apparatus comprising a transmission display
panel that changes a transmittance of light for each display region to
use transmitted light in display; and the backlight apparatus according
to claim 14, wherein light is radiated from the backlight apparatus on a
backside of the transmission display panel to perform display.

16. A backlight apparatus, wherein a plurality of light emitting module
units each identical with the light emitting module unit according to
claim 12 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a coupling direction
of the light emitting modules.

17. A transmission display apparatus comprising: a transmission display
panel that changes a transmittance of light for each display region to
use transmitted light in display; and the backlight apparatus according
to claim 16, wherein light is radiated from the backlight apparatus on a
backside of the transmission display panel to perform display.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a National Phase filing under 35 U.S.C.
§371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2010/052922 filed on
Feb. 25, 2010, and which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application
No. 2009-052263 filed on Mar. 5, 2009.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a backlight apparatus for a
transmission display apparatus and, in particular, to a backlight
apparatus that has a module board common to screen sizes to reduce the
number of types of constituent elements for a mount board.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] At present, a thin display panel centered on a liquid crystal panel
rapidly spreads, and manufacturers and distributors actively variedly
compete with each other in terms of functions, quality, costs, and the
like.

[0004] As one method of differentiating products between the manufacturers
and the distributors, a screen size may be variously changed.

[0005] In a present mainstream liquid crystal display apparatus, a CCFL
(Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) is arranged at a corner of a screen and
used as a light source. However, in consideration of environment such as
power-saving products or mercury-free products, the present liquid
crystal display apparatus has gradually shifted to a liquid crystal
display apparatus using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light source.
However, a large liquid crystal display apparatus, for example, a liquid
crystal television cannot be implemented that is equivalent to
conventional display apparatus in terms of cost and performance such as
short brightness of each LED or uneven color and brightness. In
consideration of the circumstances, backlight systems using various
schemes achieved by LED light sources are developed. A configuration is
proposed in which, without arranging LEDs at an end of a screen, unlike
in the conventional display apparatus, the number of LEDs is increased
and the LEDs are arranged immediately below a screen to adjust uneven
brightness and color.

[0006] As an example in which LEDs are arranged immediately below a
screen, in Patent Document 1, the following backlight system is
disclosed. That is, a plurality of red LEDs, green LEDs, and blue LEDs
are arranged on a plane parallel to a board, the LEDs are arranged in a
longitudinal direction of the board in a predetermined order to configure
a horizontally long rectangular light emitting block body, and
configurations each having the three light emitting block bodies arranged
in a row are parallel arranged in a plurality of steps.

[0009] A mount board for a backlight is formed for each required specific
screen size and arranged in a backlight system to make it possible to
extend the variation in screen size. However, different mount boards are
required depending on desired sizes. For this reason, expensive molds for
boards need to be prepared depending on screen sizes, and a mold cost is
increased in proportion to an increase of a variation in screen size,
which leads to high cost of production.

[0010] Patent Document 1 does not specially describe a configuration of a
backlight board prepared for each screen size, and also does not describe
a problem occurring in design of the backlight board in consideration of
a variation in screen size. The present invention was made in
consideration of the above problem, and an object thereof is to provide a
light emitting module that can be used in a backlight board for a
plurality of screen sizes in a backlight system necessary for, in
particular, a transmission display panel such as a liquid crystal display
by sharing part of the mount board to prepare various screen sizes.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0011] A light emitting module according to the present invention has a
first characteristic feature in which, on a board, an anode control
signal wiring group, a cathode control signal wiring group, and a
plurality of light emitting bodies arranged in a longitudinal direction
of the board are formed, both ends of the board independently have a
first connector and a second connector each configured by a plurality of
cathode terminals and at least one anode terminal, and the second
connector of an upstream stage and the first connector of a downstream
stage are connected to make it possible to realize a multi-level
connection, wherein the anode control signal wiring group includes first
anode wirings one ends of which are connected commonly to one of the
anode terminals of the first connector and the other ends of which are
connected to one ends of all the light emitting bodies on the board, and
a second anode wiring one end of which is connected to any one of the
first anode wirings, the other end of which is connected to one of the
anode terminals of the second connector, and that is not directly
connected to the light emitting bodies on the board, or one end of which
is connected to one of the anode terminals of the first connector and the
other end of which is connected to one of the anode terminals of the
second connector, the cathode control signal wiring group includes a
first cathode wiring group including at least one first cathode wiring
one end of which is connected to one of the cathode terminals of the
first connector and the other end of which is connected to the other end
of one of the light emitting bodies on the board, and a second cathode
wiring group including at least one second cathode wiring one end of
which is connected to one of the cathode terminals of the first
connector, the other end of which is connected to one of the cathode
terminals of the second connector, and that is not connected to the light
emitting bodies on the board, the cathode terminals in the first
connector to which the first cathode wirings of the first cathode wiring
group are connected configure a first cathode terminal group, the cathode
terminals in the first connector to which the second cathode wirings of
the second cathode wiring group are connected configure a second cathode
terminal group, the cathode terminals in the second connector to which
other ends of at least some of the second cathode wirings of the second
cathode wiring group are connected configure a third cathode terminal
group, and the third cathode terminal group is physically located at the
same position as that of the first cathode terminal group of the first
connector of the light emitting module of the same type having the same
number of first cathode wirings or the light emitting module of a
different type having the different number of first cathode wirings.

[0012] Furthermore, the light emitting module according to the present
invention has, in addition to the first characteristic feature, a second
characteristic feature in which the second cathode wiring group includes
a third cathode wiring group including the second cathode wiring that is
not connected to the cathode terminals of the third cathode terminal
group.

[0013] Furthermore, the light emitting module according to the present
invention has, in addition to the second characteristic feature, the
third characteristic feature in which the cathode terminals in the first
connector to which the second cathode wirings of the third cathode wiring
group are connected configure a fourth cathode terminal group, the
cathode terminals in the second connector to which the second cathode
wirings of the third cathode wiring group are connected configure a fifth
cathode terminal group, and the fourth cathode terminal group in the
first connector and the fifth cathode terminal group in the second
connector are physically located at the same position.

[0014] The light emitting module according to the present invention has,
in addition to the first characteristic feature, a fourth characteristic
feature in which the number of second cathode wirings connected to the
cathode terminals of the third cathode terminal group is different from
the number of first cathode wirings.

[0015] The light emitting module according to the present invention has,
in addition to the first characteristic feature, a fifth characteristic
feature of including a plurality of anode terminals in each of the first
connector and the second connector, and an inter-terminal second anode
wiring that is the second anode wiring one end of which is connected to
one of the anode terminals in the first connector, the other end of which
is connected to one of the anode terminals in the second connector, and
that is not connected to the light emitting bodies on the board.

[0016] Furthermore, the light emitting module according to the present
invention has, in addition to the fifth characteristic feature, a sixth
characteristic feature in which the anode terminal in the second
connector to which one of the inter-terminal second anode wirings of the
second anode wirings is connected is physically located at the same
position as the anode terminal in the first connector to which the first
anode wiring of another light emitting module is connected.

[0017] The light emitting module according to the present invention has,
in addition to the fifth characteristic feature, a seventh characteristic
feature in which the first anode terminal group including the anode
terminals in the first connector to which the inter-terminal second anode
wirings of the second anode wirings are connected is physically located
at the same position as the second anode terminal group including the
anode terminals in the second connector to which the inter-terminal
second anode wirings are connected.

[0018] The light emitting module according to the present invention has,
in addition to any one of the first to seventh characteristic features,
an eighth characteristic feature in which the light emitting body is an
LED.

[0019] A light emitting module unit according to the present invention has
a first characteristic feature of including a plurality of light emitting
modules each identical with the light emitting module having any one of
the first to seventh characteristic features, wherein the light emitting
modules are coupled to each other by connecting the second connector of
an upstream stage and the first connector of a downstream stage to each
other.

[0020] The light emitting module unit according to the present invention
has, in addition to the first characteristic feature, a second
characteristic feature of including a part where the light emitting
modules of different types the numbers of first cathode wirings of which
are different from each other are coupled by connecting the second
connector of an upstream stage and the first connector of a downstream
stage to each other.

[0021] The light emitting module unit according to the present invention
has, in addition to the first characteristic feature, a third
characteristic feature of including a part where the light emitting
modules of the same type the numbers of first cathode wirings of which
are equal to each other are coupled by connecting the second connector of
an upstream stage and the first connector of a downstream stage to each
other.

[0022] The light emitting module unit according to the present invention
has a fourth characteristic feature in which a plurality of light
emitting modules of the same type or different types are selected from
light emitting modules of 1 to 5 types at most in each of which an anode
control signal wiring group, a cathode control signal wiring group, and a
plurality of light emitting bodies are formed on a board, and a first
connector and a second connector each including at least one cathode
terminal and at least one anode terminal are formed at end portions of
the board, respectively, for each of the selected light emitting modules,
the second connector of an upstream stage and the first connector of a
downstream stage are connected to each other to couple the light emitting
modules to each other, so that all the light emitting bodies in the
selected light emitting modules, the cathode terminals of the first
connector in the light emitting module of the most upstream stage, and
the anode terminals of the first connector in the light emitting module
of the most upstream stage are electrically connected.

[0023] The light emitting module unit according to the present invention
which has a fifth characteristic feature in which a plurality of light
emitting modules of the same type or different types are selected from
light emitting modules of 1 to 5 types at most in each of which an anode
control signal wiring group, a cathode control signal wiring group, and a
plurality of light emitting bodies are formed on a board, and a first
connector and a second connector each including at least one cathode
terminal and at least one anode terminal are formed at end portions of
the board, respectively, for each of the selected light emitting modules,
the second connector of an upstream stage and the first connector of a
downstream stage are connected to each other to couple the light emitting
modules to each other, so that all the light emitting bodies in the
selected light emitting modules, the cathode terminals of the first
connector in the light emitting module of the most upstream stage, and
the anode terminals of the first connector in the light emitting module
of the most upstream stage are electrically connected, and the light
emitting module is the light emitting module according to any one of the
first to seventh characteristic features of the present invention.

[0024] A backlight apparatus according to the present invention has a
first characteristic feature in which a plurality of light emitting
module units each identical with the light emitting module unit according
to any one of the first and fourth characteristic features are arranged
in a direction orthogonal to a coupling direction of the light emitting
modules.

[0025] A transmission display apparatus according to the present invention
has a first characteristic feature of including a transmission display
panel that changes a transmittance of light for each display region to
use transmitted light in display and the backlight apparatus according to
the first characteristic feature of the present invention, wherein light
is radiated from the backlight apparatus on a backside of the
transmission display panel to perform display.

Effect of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, a light emitting module unit
including at least an anode wiring, a cathode wiring, and a light
emitting body is designed to be able to be decomposed and reconstructed
into a plurality of light emitting modules by devising a connection
between the anode wiring and the cathode wiring. The light emitting
modules are connected through first and second connectors arranged at
both ends of the modules. In this manner, the anode wirings and the
cathode wirings between different modules are connected to each other.

[0027] Basic light emitting modules of a minimum number of types and
adjusting light emitting modules including the light emitting modules
according to the present invention are prepared, the basic light emitting
modules and the adjusting light emitting modules are arbitrarily selected
depending on a desired screen size and coupled to each other to make it
possible to configure a light emitting module unit of one row. In this
manner, the light emitting modules can be shared by panels having
different screen sizes.

[0028] As a result, preparation of board molds for mount boards of light
emitting module units that are required for desired specific screen
sizes, respectively, is replaced with preparation of board molds of
several types corresponding to the basic module and the adjusting module,
and thereby the cost of forming the board molds can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029]FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows an example in which a backlight board is configured by
using a light emitting module according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 5 shows an example in which a backlight board is configured by
using the light emitting module according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.

[0034]FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0038]FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 12 shows a configuration example (the number of required
boards or the like) of a light emitting module board according to the
present invention required for each screen size in a backlight apparatus
for a liquid crystal display apparatus.

[0041]FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a backlight board according
to the present invention when a screen size is 26 inches.

[0042]FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a light emitting module unit
according to the present invention when a screen size is 26 inches.

[0043] FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a light emitting module unit
according to the present invention when a screen size is 42 inches.

[0044] FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of a light emitting module unit
according to the present invention when a screen size is 80 inches.

[0045]FIG. 17 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0046]FIG. 18 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 19 is a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0048]FIG. 20 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0049]FIG. 21 is a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 22 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 23 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 24 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module
according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 25 shows a configuration example (the number of required
boards or the like) of a light emitting module board according to another
embodiment required for each screen size in a backlight apparatus for a
liquid crystal display apparatus.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

[0054]FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module 1
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a circuit
diagram showing wire connections between cathode control signal wirings
(cathode wirings), anode control signal wirings (anode wirings), and
light emitting bodies (LED packages) when light emitting modules 1a and
1b of the same type are connected in two levels to configure a light
emitting module unit 101. FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram, an arrangement
of the emitting body, the cathode wiring, the anode wiring, and
connectors on the board are not always the same as an actual arrangement.
However, the anode wiring and the cathode wiring are roughly arranged at
one end and the other end in a short-side direction of the board. The
same is also applied to circuit diagrams shown in first to fifth
embodiments (will be described later).

[0055] In the light emitting module unit 101, the light emitting modules
1a and 1b each having a first connector 15 and a second connector 16
formed at both ends are coupled to each other by connecting the second
connector 16 of the upstream module 1a and the first connector 15 of the
downstream module 1b to each other. Furthermore, the light emitting
module unit 101 is connected to an LED driver board 151 (will be
described later) through the first connector 15 of the light emitting
module 1a.

[0056] The light emitting modules 1a and 1b include LED packages 12a and
12b serving as light emitting body, respectively, and each include an
anode control signal wiring group 13 including anode wirings, a cathode
control signal wiring group 14 including a plurality of cathode wirings,
anode terminals A to couple the anode wirings and the connectors 15 and
16 to each other, and cathode terminals K1 to K10 to connect the cathode
wirings and the connectors 15 and 16.

[0057] As for the LED, an LED package that has a configuration in which an
LED chip is mounted on a wiring pattern formed on a surface of an
insulating board and sealed with a transparent resin containing a
phosphor therearound is used. The wiring pattern is electrically
connected to an external electrode on a rear surface side of the
insulating substrate, and the LED package emits white light.

[0058] The anode control signal wiring group 13 includes, in each of the
light emitting modules 1a and 1b, a common first anode wiring one end of
which is connected to the anode terminal A of the first connector 15 and
the other end of which is branched to be connected to all the LED
packages 12a or 12b on the light emitting modules and a second anode
wiring that connects the first anode wiring and the anode terminal A of
the second connector 16 to each other and that is not directly connected
to the LED package 12a or 12b. In this manner, the anode terminal A of
the first connector 15 and the anode terminal A of the second connector
16 are connected to each other.

[0059] The cathode control signal wiring group 14 includes five first
cathode wirings one ends of which are connected to the cathode terminals
(K1 to K5) of the first connector and the other ends of which are
connected to one of the LED packages 12a and 12b and five second cathode
wirings one ends of which are connected to the cathode terminals (K6 to
K10) of the first connector 15 and the other ends of which are connected
to the cathode terminals (K1 to K5) of the second connector 16.

[0060] In this case, a set of the cathode terminals of the first connector
to which the first cathode wirings are connected is defined as a first
cathode terminal group, and a set of cathode terminals of the first
connector to which the second cathode wirings are connected is defined as
a second cathode terminal group.

[0061] When another light emitting module is coupled to an upstream light
emitting module as a downstream stage through a connector, a set of the
cathode terminals of the second connector of the upstream stage that is
connected to at least some of the second cathode wirings, that is
physically located at the same positions as those of the cathode
terminals of the first connector to which the first cathode wirings of
the downstream light emitting module are connected, and that is connected
to the first cathode wirings of the downstream light emitting module
through the first connector 15 is defined as a third cathode terminal
group.

[0062] The cathode terminals K1 to K5 of the second connector to which the
second cathode wirings of the light emitting module 1a are connected are
physically located at the same positions as those of the cathode
terminals K1 to K5 of the first connector of the light emitting module 1b
that are connected to the first cathode wirings of the light emitting
module 1b to configure the first cathode terminal group of the light
emitting module 1b. In this manner, the light emitting module 1a and the
light emitting module 1b are connected to each other through the
connectors 15 and 16 to electrically connect the LED package 12b in the
light emitting module 1b to an LED driver board 151. More specifically,
in the example described above, all the cathode terminals K1 to K5 of the
second connector 16 connected to the second cathode wirings of the light
emitting module 1a serve as a third cathode terminal group.

[0063] In the above description, "the cathode wiring groups are physically
arranged at the same positions" means that distances from a predetermined
reference line parallel to the long side of the board are equal to each
other. For example, in the above example, when a line passing through the
anode terminal A of the first connector 15 is defined as the reference
line, distances between the reference line and the first cathode terminal
groups K1 to K5 are equal to distances between the reference line and the
third cathode terminal groups K1 to K5 of the second connector 16,
respectively. The same is also applied to the subsequent embodiments.

[0064] More specifically, with respect to five LED packages on the light
emitting module 1a directly connected to the LED driver board 151, anode
control signals are supplied from a common first anode wiring connected
to the anode terminal A of the first connector of the light emitting
module 1a, and cathode control signals are supplied from the five first
cathode wirings connected to the first cathode terminal groups K1 to K5
of the light emitting module 1a. On the other hand, with respect to five
LED packages on the light emitting module 1b connected to the LED driver
board 151 through the light emitting module 1a, anode control signals are
supplied from the first anode wirings of the light emitting module 1b
through the second anode wirings of the light emitting module 1a and the
anode terminals A of the connectors 15 and 16 between the light emitting
modules 1a and 1b, and cathode control signals are supplied from five
first cathode wirings of the light emitting module 1b through the second
cathode terminal groups K6 to K10 of the light emitting module 1a
connected to the LED driver 151, the second cathode wirings of the light
emitting module 1a, and the first cathode terminal groups K1 to K5 of the
light emitting module 1b. Thus, each of the LED packages can be
independently driven by the above wiring layout.

[0065] Consequently, all the 10 LED packages arranged on the light
emitting module unit 101 are electrically connected. The lengths of the
light emitting modules in the longitudinal direction are adjusted such
that, when the light emitting modules 1a and 1b are coupled to each
other, all the LED packages are arranged at predetermined intervals.

[0066]FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a backlight board 111 using
the light emitting module unit 101 shown in FIG. 1. The backlight board
111 is configured such that the plurality of light emitting module units
101 described above are connected to the LED driver board 151 through the
connector 15 of the light emitting module 1a. FIG. 2 shows a physical
arrangement of constituent elements and shows that all the LED packages
in the light emitting module unit 101 are uniformly arranged in the
longitudinal directions of the light emitting modules 1a and 1b. FIG. 2
shows an example in which the light emitting module units 101 are
connected in 12 rows.

[0067]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a backlight system
301 on which the backlight board 111 according to the present invention
is mounted. In the backlight system 301, the backlight board 111 in which
the light emitting module units 101 described above are parallel arranged
in 12 rows and connected to the LED driver board 151 is made to adhere a
backlight chassis 358 by a heat-conductive double-face tape 357. In the
configuration, a reflector 356 is arranged in front of the backlight
board 111, a diffusion plate 355 is arranged in front of the reflector
356, a diffusion sheet 354 is arranged in front of the diffusion plate
355, a prism sheet 353 is arranged in front of diffusion sheet 354, a
polarizing plate 352 is arranged in front of the prism sheet 353, and a
liquid crystal panel unit 351 is arranged in front of the polarizing
plate 352. Light from the LED package on the backlight board 111 is
radiated from a backside of the liquid crystal panel unit 351 through the
reflector 356, the diffusion plate 355, the diffusion sheet 354, the
prism sheet 353, and the polarizing plate 352, and transmitted light the
transmittance of which is controlled for each display region emerges on
the front face of the liquid crystal panel unit 351.

[0068] The backlight board 111 may be fixed to the backlight chassis 358
with a screw. In this case, since the light emitting module unit 101 can
be easily detached, even though a drawback may be detected in a light
emitting module by an inspection or the like of a backlight system, the
light emitting module unit 101 can be easily replaced. In a region that
is not occupied by the light emitting module unit 101 of the backlight
chassis 358, the reflector 356 has an inclined surface at an end portion
to reflect light to the front face.

Second Embodiment

[0069] FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module 2
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shows
an example in which, when a screen size required for a backlight system
cannot be covered by connecting light emitting modules of the same type
in a plurality of levels, an adjusting light emitting module 2 is further
connected to make it possible to configure a light emitting module unit
102 and a backlight board 112. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing wire
connections between the cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings),
the anode control signal wirings (anode wirings), and the light emitting
bodies (LED packages) in a configuration in which, in addition to the
light emitting modules 1a and 1b according to the first embodiment, the
adjusting light emitting module 2 is connected between an LED driver
board 152 and the light emitting module 1a, and the light emitting
modules are connected in a total of three levels to form the light
emitting module unit 102.

[0070] The modules of the light emitting module unit 102 are coupled to
each other such that the two light emitting modules 1a and 1b of the same
type having the first connector 15 and the second connector 16 at both
the ends are connected by the second connector of the light emitting
module 1a and the first connector of the light emitting module 1b, and
the light emitting module 2 having the first connector 15 and the second
connector 16 at both the ends is connected to the light emitting module
1a by the second connector of the light emitting module 2 and the first
connector of the light emitting module 1a. Furthermore, the light
emitting module unit 102 is connected to an LED driver board 152 through
the first connector 15 of the light emitting module 2.

[0071] As in the first embodiment, the light emitting modules 1a and 1b
include the LED packages 12a and 12b serving as light emitting bodies,
respectively, and each include the anode control signal wiring group 13
including anode wirings, the cathode control signal wiring group 14
including a plurality of cathode wirings, the anode terminals A to couple
the anode wirings and the connectors 15 and 16 to each other, and the
cathode terminals K1 to K10 to connect the cathode wirings and the
connectors 15 and 16 to each other.

[0072] The light emitting module 2 includes an LED 22 serving as a light
emitting body, the anode control signal wiring group 23 including anode
wirings, a cathode control signal wiring group 24 including a plurality
of cathode wirings, the anode terminals A to couple the anode wirings and
the connectors 15 and 16 to each other, the cathode terminals K1 to K14
on the first connector 15 side to connect the cathode wirings and the
connectors 15 and 16 to each other, and the cathode terminals K1 to K10
on the second connector 16 side.

[0073] The anode control signal wiring group 23 includes a common first
anode wiring one end of which is connected to the anode terminal A of the
first connector 15 of the light emitting module 2 and the other end of
which is branched to be directly connected to all the LED packages 22 on
the light emitting module 2 and a second anode wiring that connects the
first anode wiring and the anode terminal A of the second connector 16 to
each other and that is not directly connected to the LED package 22. In
this manner, the anode terminal A of the first connector 15 and the anode
terminal A of the second connector 16 are connected to each other. The
second connector of the downstream light emitting module 2 and the first
connector of the upstream light emitting module 1a are connected to each
other through the anode terminal A to make it possible to supply anode
control signals from the LED driver board 152 to all the LED packages
included in the light emitting module 2, the light emitting module 1a,
and the light emitting module 1b.

[0074] The cathode control signal wiring group 24 includes 4 first cathode
wirings one ends of which are connected to the cathode terminals K1 to K4
of the first connector of the light emitting module 2 and the other ends
of which are connected to one of the LED packages 22, and 10 second
cathode wirings one ends of which are connected to cathode terminals K5
to K14 of the first connector of the light emitting module 2 and the
other ends of which are connected to the cathode terminals K1 to K10 of
the second connector of the light emitting module 2. Some of the second
cathode wirings, i.e., the five second cathode wirings connected to the
cathode terminals K5 to K9 of the first connector of the light emitting
module 2 are connected to the cathode terminals K1 to K5 of the second
connector of the light emitting module 2, respectively. However, the
cathode terminals K1 to K5 of the second connector of the light emitting
module 2 are physically arranged at the same positions as those of the
first cathode terminal groups K1 to K5 of the light emitting module 1a.
In this manner, the light emitting module unit 2 and the light emitting
module 1a are connected to each other through the connectors 15 and 16 to
electrically connect the LED packages 12a in the light emitting module 1a
to the LED driver board 152. In the above example, the cathode terminals
K1 to K5 that are some of the cathode terminals K1 to K10 of the second
connector connected to the second cathode wirings of the light emitting
module 2 are connected to the first cathode wirings of the light emitting
module 1a to serve as the third cathode terminal group.

[0075] On the other hand, of the second cathode wirings of the light
emitting module unit 2, the remaining five second cathode wirings that
are not connected to the first cathode wirings of the light emitting
module 1a, i.e., the second cathode wirings (third cathode wiring group)
that are connected to the cathode terminals K10 to K14 (fourth cathode
terminal group) of the first connector of the light emitting module 2 and
connected to the cathode terminals K6 to K10 (fifth cathode terminal
group) of the second connector of the light emitting module 2 are
connected to the second cathode wirings of the light emitting module 1a
through the second cathode terminal groups K6 to K10 of the light
emitting module 1a, respectively, connected to the first cathode wirings
of the light emitting module 1b through the first cathode terminal groups
K1 to K5 of the light emitting module 1b, and connected to the LED
packages 12b of the light emitting module 1b. In this manner, with
respect to all the LED packages included in the light emitting module 2,
the light emitting module 1a, and the light emitting module 1b, cathode
control signals can be supplied from the LED driver board 152. Each of
the LED packages can be independently driven by the above wiring layout.

[0076] In this case, of the second cathode wirings, a set of wirings that
are not connected to the cathode terminals of the third cathode terminal
group is defined as a third cathode wiring group, the cathode terminals
of the first connector to which the second cathode wirings of the third
cathode wiring group are connected are defined as a fourth cathode
terminal group, and the cathode terminals of the second connector to
which the second cathode wirings of the third cathode wiring group are
connected are defined as a fifth cathode terminal group.

[0077] Therefore, all the 14 LED packages arranged on the light emitting
module unit 102 are electrically connected to each other. An arrangement
interval between the LEDs on the adjusting light emitting module 2 is
equal to that of each of the light emitting modules 1a and 1b. A length
of the adjusting light emitting module 2 in the longitudinal direction is
adjusted to fall within the range of a screen size in the embodiment when
the light emitting modules 2, 1a, and 1b are coupled to each other.

[0078]FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the backlight board 112
using the light emitting module unit 102 shown in FIG. 4. The backlight
board 112 is configured such that the plurality of light emitting module
units 102 are connected to the LED driver board 152 through the connector
15 of the light emitting module 2. FIG. 5 shows a physical arrangement of
the constituent elements, and especially shows that all the LED packages
in the light emitting module unit 102 are uniformly arranged in the
longitudinal direction of the light emitting modules 2, 1a, and 1b. Note
that, FIG. 5 shows an example in which the light emitting module units
102 are connected in 12 rows.

[0079] The backlight board 112, as in the first embodiment, can also be
mounted in a backlight system.

Third Embodiment

[0080]FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of a light emitting module 3
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shows
an example in which, as a measure against shortage of a drive current
supplied to all the LEDs on the light emitting modules connected to each
other through the connectors when signals are received from the LED
driver board by using a common anode control signal wiring, the light
emitting modules 3 in which a plurality of anode control signal wirings
are prepared are connected in a plurality of levels to make it possible
to configure a light emitting module unit 103 and a backlight board 113.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between cathode
control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal wirings
(anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) when light
emitting modules 3a and 3b of the same type each having a plurality of
anode control signal wirings are connected in two levels and connected to
an LED driver board 153 to configure the light emitting module unit 103.
Note that, since a method of connecting cathode signal wirings is the
same as that in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be
omitted. A method of connecting anode signal wirings will be described
below in detail.

[0081] In the light emitting module unit 103, the light emitting modules
3a and 3b of the same type each having the first connector 15 and the
second connector 16 at both the ends are coupled to each other in two
levels, by connecting the second connector of the upstream module 3a and
the first connector of the downstream module 3b to each other.
Furthermore, the light emitting module unit 103 is also connected to the
LED driver board 153 (not shown) through the first connector of the light
emitting module 3a.

[0082] The light emitting modules 3a and 3b include LED packages 32a and
32b serving as light emitting bodies, respectively, and each include an
anode control signal wiring group 33 including a plurality of anode
wirings, a cathode control signal wiring group 34 including a plurality
of cathode wirings, anode terminals A1 and A2 to couple the anode wirings
and the connectors 15 and 16 to each other, and cathode terminals K1 to
K10 to connect the cathode wirings and the connectors 15 and 16 to each
other.

[0083] The anode control wiring group 33 includes, in each of the light
emitting modules 3a and 3b, a common first anode wiring one end of which
is connected to an anode terminal A2 of the first connector 15 and the
other end of which is branched to be connected to all LED packages 32a or
32b on the light emitting modules and one second anode wiring that
connects the anode terminal A1 of the first connector and the anode
terminal A2 of the second connector and is not connected to the LED
packages.

[0084] In this case, of the second anode wirings, wirings that connect the
anode terminals of the first connector and the anode terminals of the
second connector to each other and are not connected to the LED packages
are defined as inter-terminal second anode wirings. In the above example,
the second anode wiring that connects the anode terminal A1 of the first
connector and the anode terminal A2 of the second connector is the
inter-terminal second anode wiring.

[0085] The second anode wiring (inter-terminal second anode wiring) of the
light emitting module 3a is connected to the anode terminal A2 of the
second connector, and the first anode wiring of the light emitting module
3b is connected to the anode terminal A2 of the first connector. Both the
anode terminals are physically located at the same position. In this
manner, the light emitting module unit 3a and the light emitting module
3b are connected to each other through the connectors 15 and 16 to
connect the second anode wiring (inter-terminal second anode wiring) of
the light emitting module 3a and the first anode wiring of the light
emitting module unit 3b to each other, and all LED packages 32 of the
light emitting module unit 3b are electrically connected to the LED
driver board 153 (not shown).

[0086] More specifically, the five LED packages on the light emitting
module 3a can receive anode control signals supplied from the first anode
wirings of the light emitting module 3a through the anode terminal A2 of
the first connector 15 of the light emitting module 3a, and the five LED
packages on the light emitting module 3b can receive anode control
signals supplied from the first anode wirings of the light emitting
module 3b through the anode terminal A1 of the first connector of the
light emitting module 3a, the second anode wiring of the light emitting
module 3a, and the anode terminals A2 of the connectors 15 and 16 between
the light emitting modules 3a and 3b.

[0087] The light emitting module unit 103 described above, as in the first
and second embodiments, can be mounted in a backlight system by
connecting the plurality of light emitting module units 103 to the LED
driver board to configure a backlight board.

Fourth Embodiment

[0088] As described in the above embodiment, light emitting modules of the
same type or adjusting light emitting modules are connected in a
plurality of levels to configure a light emitting module unit to
configure a backlight board, so as to make it possible to configure a
backlight system corresponding to various screen sizes. More
specifically, a description will be given below of an example in which
basic light emitting modules of three types and adjusting light emitting
modules of two types are combined to each other to configure a light
emitting module unit 4 that can be applied to liquid crystal display
apparatuses having screen sizes of 13 to 80 inches.

[0089] FIGS. 7 to 11 are circuit diagrams showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal
wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) with
respect to basic light emitting modules M01 to M03 of three types and
adjusting light emitting modules M04 and M05 of two types that are used
in combination in the light emitting module unit 4. The light emitting
modules M01 to M05 have the anode terminals A1 and cathode terminals K01
to K38 in each of the first connector 15 and the second connector 16. The
anode control signal wiring includes, in each of the light emitting
modules M01 to M05, a common first anode wiring one end of which is
connected to the anode terminal A1 of the first connector 15 and the
other end of which is branched to be connected to all the LED packages on
the light emitting module and a second anode wiring that connects the
first anode wiring and the anode terminal A1 of the second connector 16
to each other and is not directly connected to the LED packages. In this
manner, the anode terminal A1 of the first connector 15 and the anode
terminal A1 of the second connector 16 are connected to each other. In
each of the light emitting modules M01 to M05, LED packages 42 serving as
light emitting bodies are arranged on narrow strips of board at 50-mm
intervals. Also when the light emitting modules are connected to each
other, the longitudinal size of the modules is defined such that the
intervals between the LED packages are kept at 50 mm as described above.
An arrangement of the light emitting modules in a row direction (vertical
direction of screen) is adjusted such that an arrangement interval is
defined to 50 mm, and a center position between the light emitting
modules at both the ends in the vertical direction of screen is
positioned in the center of the screen. An LED package 42 employs an LED
package of a lead frame type emitting white light. The LED package is
insert-molded with a light-reflecting resin for a lead frame on which an
LED chip is mounted. The LED chip is surrounded by the light-reflecting
resin and sealed with a transparent resin containing a phosphor. Eight
LED packages, six LED packages, and five LED packages are mounted on the
basic light emitting modules M01, the basic light emitting modules M02,
and the basic light emitting modules M03, respectively. Four LED packages
and three LED packages are mounted on the adjusting light emitting module
M04 and the adjusting light emitting module M05, respectively.

[0090] FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), the anode control
signal wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages)
of the basic light emitting module M01. The cathode control signal wiring
group of the light emitting module M01 includes eight first cathode
wirings (first cathode wirings for board M01) that are connected to the
first cathode terminal groups K1 to K8 and the LED packages,
respectively, and 30 second cathode wirings that are connected to the
second cathode terminal groups K9 to K38, respectively and that are not
connected to the LED packages. Of the second cathode wirings, eight
second cathode wirings (second cathode wirings for board M01) connected
to the cathode terminals K9 to K16 of the first connector are connected
to the cathode terminals K1 to K8 of the second connector, respectively,
and are also connected to the cathode terminals of the first cathode
terminal groups K1 to K8 of the downstream basic light emitting module
M01 by connecting the basic light emitting module M01 of the same type at
the downstream stage. In this manner, the LED packages of the downstream
basic light emitting module M01 are connected to the cathode terminals K9
to K16 of the first connector through the eight second cathode wirings
(second cathode wirings for board M01) of the upstream basic light
emitting module M01.

[0091] Of the second cathode wirings of the basic light emitting module
M01, 22 second cathode wirings connected to the cathode terminals K17 to
K38 of the first connector, respectively, are connected to the cathode
terminal groups K17 to K38 of the second connector, respectively, that
are physically located at the same positions as those of the cathode
terminal groups K17 to K38 of the first connector to which the second
cathode wirings are connected. In this manner, when any one of the light
emitting modules M01 to M05 is connected at the downstream stage, the 22
second cathode wirings can be connected to the second cathode wirings of
the light emitting module M01 of the same type or the first cathode
wirings and the second cathode wirings of the light emitting modules M02
to M05 of different types. In the embodiment, in particular, the 12
second cathode wirings connected to the cathode terminals K17 to K28 are
used to connect the basic light emitting module M02, and the 10 second
cathode wirings connected to the cathode terminals K29 to K38 are used to
connect the basic light emitting module M03 and the adjusting light
emitting modules M04 and M05. For example, when the light emitting module
M01 is connected at the downstream stage, the cathode terminals K1 to K8
of the second connector serve as a third cathode terminal group, the
cathode terminals K17 to K38 of the first connector serve as a fourth
cathode terminal group, the cathode terminals K17 to K38 of the second
connector serve as a fifth cathode terminal group, and the fourth cathode
terminal group and the fifth cathode terminal group are physically
located at the same position.

[0092] FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal
wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) of the
basic light emitting module M02. The cathode control signal wiring group
of the light emitting module M02 includes six first cathode wirings
(first cathode wirings for board M02) connected to the first cathode
terminal groups K17 to K22 and the LED packages, respectively, and 16
second cathode wirings that are connected to the second cathode terminal
groups K23 to K38, respectively, and are not connected to the LED
packages. Of the second cathode wirings, six second cathode wirings
(second cathode wirings for board M02) connected to the cathode terminals
K23 to K28 of the first connector, respectively, are connected to the
cathode terminals K17 to K22 of the second connector, respectively, and
connected to the cathode terminals of the first cathode terminal groups
K17 to K22 of the downstream basic light emitting module M02 by
connecting the basic light emitting module M02 of the same type at the
downstream stage. In this manner, the LED packages of the downstream
basic light emitting module M02 are connected to the cathode terminals
K23 to K28 of the first connector through the six second cathode wirings
(second cathode wirings for board M02) of the upstream basic light
emitting module M02.

[0093] Of the second cathode wirings of the basic light emitting module
M02, second cathode wirings connected to the cathode terminals K29 to K38
of the first connector, respectively, are connected to the cathode
terminal groups K29 to K38 of the second connector, respectively, that
are physically located at the same positions as those of the cathode
terminal groups K29 to K38 of the first connector to which the second
cathode wirings are connected. In this manner, when any one of the light
emitting modules M02 to M05 is connected at the downstream stage, the 10
second cathode wirings can be connected to the second cathode wirings of
the light emitting module M02 of the same type or the first cathode
wirings and the second cathode wirings of the light emitting modules M03
to M05 of different types. In the embodiment, the 10 second cathode
wirings connected to the cathode terminals K29 to K38 are used to connect
the basic light emitting module M03 and the adjusting light emitting
modules M04 and M05. For example, when the light emitting module M02 is
connected at the downstream stage, the cathode terminals K17 to K22 of
the second connector serve as a third cathode terminal group, the cathode
terminals K29 to K38 of the first connector serve as a fourth cathode
terminal group, the cathode terminals K29 to K38 of the second connector
serve as a fifth cathode terminal group, and the fourth cathode terminal
group and the fifth cathode terminal group are physically located at the
same position.

[0094] FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal
wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) of the
basic light emitting module M03. The cathode control signal wiring group
of the light emitting module M03 includes five first cathode wirings
(first cathode wirings for board M03 to M05) that are connected to the
first cathode terminal groups K29 to K33 and the LEDs, respectively, and
five second cathode wirings (second cathode wirings for boards M03 to
M05) that are connected to the second cathode terminal groups K34 to K38,
respectively, and that are not connected to the LED packages. The five
second cathode wirings are connected to the cathode terminals K29 to K33
of the second connector, respectively, and also connected to the cathode
terminals of the first cathode terminal groups K29 to K33 of the
downstream basic light emitting module M03 by connecting the basic light
emitting module M03 of the same type at the downstream stage. In this
manner, the LED packages of the downstream basic light emitting module
M03 are connected to the second cathode terminal groups K34 to K38
through the five second cathode wirings (second cathode wirings for
boards M03 to M05) of the upstream basic light emitting module M03.

[0095]FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal
wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) of the
adjusting light emitting module M04. Each of the cathode control signal
wiring groups of the light emitting module M04 has four first cathode
wirings connected to the first cathode terminal groups K29 to K32 and the
LED packages, respectively, and can be connected to any one of the
upstream basic light emitting modules M01 to M03.

[0096] FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal
wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) of the
adjusting light emitting modules M05. Each of the cathode control signal
wiring groups of the light emitting module M05 has three first cathode
wirings connected to the first cathode terminal groups K29 to K31 and the
LED packages, respectively, and can be connected to any one of the
upstream basic light emitting modules M01 to M03.

[0097] As rules applied when the light emitting modules M01 to M05 are
connected to each other, it is assumed that the number of basic light
emitting modules of the same type is up to two and that the basic light
emitting modules of different types are connected to each other in the
order of M01, M02, and M03 from the side near the LED driver board, for
example, M01-M01-M02-M02-M03, M01-M03-M03, or M02-M02-M03. With respect
to the adjusting light emitting modules, only one of the modules M04 and
M05 is necessarily connected to a position farthest away from the LED
driver board.

[0098] On the basis of the above mutual connection rules, the plurality of
light emitting modules M01 to M05 of five types are combined and
connected to each other to configure a light emitting module unit. In
this manner, a backlight system for liquid crystal display apparatuses
having screen sizes of 13 to 80 inches can be structured. In the
backlight systems for the liquid crystal display apparatuses, vertical
and horizontal dimensions of screens having screen sizes of 13 inches to
80 inches, the number of necessary light emitting modules M01 to M05 to
be used, and the number of necessary light emitting module units (the
number of rows) are shown in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, as the grounds for
number of light emitting modules to be used, distances between LED
packages arranged from one end to the opposite end in the vertical and
horizontal directions of the screen are also described. The distances
between the LED packages and the number of light emitting module units
are calculated on the basis of intervals (50 mm) between the LED packages
not to exceed a screen size, for example, can be calculated on the basis
of the description in paragraph 0012 in Patent Document 2.

[0099] On the basis of the number of light emitting modules to be used
described in FIG. 12, according to the mutual connection rules, the light
emitting module unit is configured to make it possible to configure a
backlight system for a liquid crystal display apparatus. FIG. 13 shows a
configuration of a backlight board when a screen size is 26 inches, FIGS.
14 to 16 show configurations of light emitting module units when screen
sizes are 26 inches, 42 inches, and 80 inches, respectively, by using the
circuit diagrams of the light emitting modules M01 to M05 shown in FIGS.
7 to 11 and used in combination.

[0100] A light crystal display apparatus can be provided by using the
backlight system according to the embodiment in place of the backlight
system described in the first embodiment. In the backlight system
according to the embodiment, the LED packages on the light emitting
module unit can be independently driven and controlled. For this reason,
the backlight system is suitable for ON/OFF control of a backlight system
of a local dimming scheme that divides a screen into a plurality of
display areas and controls a luminance of a backlight in units of display
areas. However, a control scheme that lights the whole area of a
backlight may be employed without using the local dimming scheme.

Fifth Embodiment

[0101] The light emitting modules M01 to M05, as in the third embodiments,
can be also configured to make it possible to supply anode control
signals through a plurality of anode control signal wirings. More
specifically, a description will be given below of an example in which
three anode control signal wirings are prepared to configure a light
emitting module unit 5 that can be applied to liquid crystal display
apparatuses having screen sizes of 13 to 80 inches.

[0102] FIGS. 17 to 21 are circuit diagrams showing wire connections
between cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control
signal wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages)
with respect to basic light emitting modules M01' to M03' of three types
and adjusting light emitting modules M04' and M05' of two types that are
used in combination in the light emitting module unit 5. The light
emitting modules M01' to M05' have the anode terminals A1 to A3 and the
cathode terminals K01 to K38 in the first connector 15 and the second
connector 16. Eight LED packages, six LED packages, and five LED packages
are mounted on the basic light emitting modules M01', the basic light
emitting modules M02', and the basic light emitting modules M03',
respectively. Four LED packages and three LED packages are mounted on the
adjusting light emitting module M04' and the adjusting light emitting
module M05', respectively.

[0103]FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), the anode control
signal wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages)
of the basic light emitting module M01'. The anode control signal wiring
group of the light emitting module M01' includes a common first anode
wiring one end of which is connected to the anode terminal A3 of the
first connector 15 and the other end of which is branched to be connected
to all the LED packages on the light emitting module and a second anode
wiring that connects the first anode wiring and the anode terminal A3 of
the second connector 16 to each other and is not directly connected to
the LED packages. Furthermore, the anode control signal wiring group of
the light emitting module M01' includes two inter-terminal second anode
wirings one ends of which are connected to the anode terminals of the
first connector, the other ends of which are connected to the anode
terminals of the second connector, and that are not connected to the LED
packages. The anode terminal groups A1 and A2 (first anode terminal
groups) of the first connector to which the inter-terminal second anode
wirings are connected and the anode terminal groups A1 and A2 (second
anode terminal groups) of the second connector to which the
inter-terminal second anode wirings are connected are physically located
at the same positions.

[0104]FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal
wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) of the
basic light emitting module M02'. The anode control signal wiring group
of the light emitting module M02' includes a common first anode wiring
one end of which is connected to the anode terminal A2 of the first
connector 15 and the other end of which is branched to be connected to
all the LED packages on the light emitting module and a second anode
wiring that connects the first anode wiring and the anode terminal A2 of
the second connector 16 to each other and is not directly connected to
the LED packages. Furthermore, the anode control signal wiring group of
the light emitting module M02' includes one inter-terminal second anode
wiring one end of which is connected to the anode terminal of the first
connector, the other end of which is connected to the anode terminal of
the second connector, and that is not connected to the LED packages. The
anode terminal group A1 (first anode terminal group) of the first
connector to which the inter-terminal second anode wiring is connected
and the anode terminal group A1 (second anode terminal group) of the
second connector to which the inter-terminal second anode wiring is
connected are physically located at the same position.

[0105] FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing wire connections between
cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control signal
wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages) of the
basic light emitting module M03'. The anode control signal wiring group
of the light emitting module M03' includes one common first anode wiring
one end of which is connected to the anode terminal A1 of the first
connector 15 and the other end of which is branched to be connected to
all the LED packages on the light emitting module and a second anode
wiring that connects the first anode wiring and the anode terminal A1 of
the second connector 16 to each other.

[0106]FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are circuit diagrams showing wire connections
between cathode control signal wirings (cathode wirings), anode control
signal wirings (anode wirings), and light emitting bodies (LED packages)
of the adjusting light emitting modules M04' and M05', respectively. The
anode control signal wiring groups of the light emitting modules M04' and
M05' have a common first anode wiring one end of which is connected to
the anode terminal A1 of the first connector 15 and the other end of
which is branched to be connected to all the LED packages on the light
emitting module.

[0107] In this manner, since the light emitting module M01', the light
emitting module M02', and the light emitting modules M03' to M05' can
independently receive the anode control signals from the anode terminal
A3, the anode terminal A2, and the anode terminal A1, respectively to
cope with a fluctuation of a forward drop voltage Vf required to operate
an LED, an upper limit of a necessary anode supply voltage can be
lowered.

[0108] Since a method of connecting cathode signal wirings, a method of
mounting a light emitting LED package, and a method of configuring a
light emitting module unit depending on a screen size in each of the
light emitting modules M01' to M05' are the same as those in the fourth
embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

[0109] The embodiments described above are examples of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the present
invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, various
changes and modification can be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention.

Other Embodiments

[0110] Other embodiments will be described below.

[0111] <1> In the embodiments described above, each of the light
emitting modules is configured to have a common first anode wiring for a
plurality of mounted LED packages. However, in order to make it possible
to drive the LED packages independently, each of the LED packages has an
independent cathode wiring and an independent cathode terminal. The
present invention is not limited to the above configuration, a common
cathode wiring may be arranged for a plurality of LED packages, and each
of the LED packages may have an independent anode wiring. The roles of
the cathode wiring and the anode wiring are merely replaced with each
other.

[0112] <2> In the above embodiments, the light emitting body
includes one LED package. However, the present invention is not limited
to this configuration, and a plurality of LED packages may be configured
as one light emitting body. In this case, not only LED packages that emit
white light, but also LED packages that emit red, blue, and green light
may be combined to each other.

[0113] <3> In the above embodiments, the intervals between the LED
packages in the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen are set
to be equal to each other. However, the intervals in the vertical and
horizontal directions may be different from each other.

[0114] <4> In the above embodiments, the arrangements of the anode
wirings, the cathode wirings, and the light emitting bodies in the light
emitting module are not specially defined, and it is supposed that both
the anode wirings and the cathode wirings are arranged on the same board
surface as the board surface on which the light emitting bodies are
formed. However, the present invention is not limited to the arrangement.
When a board both the surfaces of which are implementable is used, any
one of the cathode wiring and the anode wiring can be arranged on a rear
surface of a board surface on which the light emitting body is formed. In
particular, when a common anode wiring is arranged on the rear surface of
the board, a broad anode wiring can be secured over the rear surface of
the board, and the resistance of the anode wiring can be reduced. For
this reason, heat generation caused when currents are caused to flow into
all the light emitting bodies on the light emitting modules in the light
emitting module unit through a common anode wiring can be reduced.

[0115] FIG. 22 shows an example of a wiring pattern of the light emitting
module board having an anode wiring formed on the rear surface of the
board. FIG. 22A shows a wiring pattern of the light emitting body (LED
package) and the cathode wiring on the front surface of the light
emitting module board, FIG. 22B shows a wiring pattern of an anode wiring
on the rear surface, and FIG. 22C shows a sectional view of the board in
an A-A' direction. The common anode wiring is formed on the entire rear
surface of the light emitting module board, and the anode wiring and a
land pattern (not shown) of the LED packages are connected to each other
by a penetrating electrode 51. Since the anode wiring is arranged on the
entire rear surface of the board to reduce the resistance of the anode
wiring and to reduce heat generation, large currents can be supplied to
the light emitting module and the light emitting module connected at the
downstream stage of the light emitting module.

[0116] The above configuration can be applied to not only a modular mount
board as in the present invention but also a general light emitting
module unit that is not made modular, and a backlight board.

[0117] <5> In the fourth and fifth embodiments, up to two basic
light emitting modules of the same type can be connected. However, the
present invention is not limited to the configuration, and three or more
light emitting modules of the same type can be connected. For example,
unlike the embodiments described above showing the example in which the
cathode wirings are arranged for LED packages, respectively, and
connected in parallel to each other to make it possible to independently
drive a plurality of LED packages, a plurality of LED packages may be
connected in series with each other. A basic light emitting module M06
shown in FIG. 23A has eight LED packages that are connected in series
with each other by one cathode wiring and one anode wiring that is not
connected to the LED packages. The cathode wiring is connected to the
cathode terminals K1 of the first connector 15 and the second connector
16 at both the ends of the board, respectively, and the anode wiring is
connected to the anode terminals A1 of the first connector 15 and the
second connector 16 at both the ends of the board, respectively. When the
light emitting modules of the same type are connected at the downstream
stage, the anode and cathode terminals of the first connector 15 of the
light emitting module of the downstream stage can be connected to an LED
driver board (not shown) or the anode and cathode terminals of the second
connector of the upstream light emitting module, respectively, and the
anode and cathode terminals of the second connector 16 can be connected
to the anode and cathode terminals of the first connector of the
downstream light emitting module, respectively. Similarly, FIGS. 23B and
23C show configuration examples of the basic light emitting modules M07
and M08 the numbers of LED packages of which are different from each
other, respectively. Six LED packages and five LED packages are mounted
on the basic light emitting modules M07 and the basic light emitting
modules M08, respectively.

[0118] When the basic light emitting modules are arranged at terminal
positions connected to a position farthest away from an LED driver board
(not shown), a switch (SW) 17 to electrically connect the anode wiring
and the LED package to each other is arranged to drive the LED package.
With the mechanism, when the basic light emitting modules M06 to M08 are
connected to each other, all the LED packages are connected in series
with each other, and control signals can be supplied to the LED packages
of all the basic light emitting modules through the cathode wiring and
the anode wiring of the basic light emitting modules directly connected
to the LED driver board.

[0119] FIG. 24A shows a configuration example of an adjusting light
emitting module M09 in which four LED packages are mounted, and FIG. 24B
shows a configuration example of an adjusting light emitting module M10
in which three LED packages are mounted. In the examples, the adjusting
light emitting modules M09 and M10 are designed on the assumption that
the adjusting light emitting modules M09 and M10 are connected to
terminal positions farthest away from an LED driver board (not shown),
the anode wiring and the LED packages are connected to each other from
the beginning without a switch. The second connector is also omitted.

[0120] When the basic light emitting modules M06 to M08 and the adjusting
light emitting modules M09 and M10 are connected to each other, backlight
systems corresponding to a lineup of screen sizes of 13 to 80 inches
described in the fourth embodiment can be realized with a configuration
different from the configuration shown in FIG. 12. For example, when a
screen size is 52 inches, three basic light emitting modules M06 in each
of which eight LED packages are mounted may be connected to each other.
Alternatively, when a screen size is 40 inches, three basic light
emitting modules 07 in each of which six LED packages are mounted may be
connected to each other.

[0121] FIG. 25 shows a list of configurations of light emitting module
unit of each screen size corresponding to FIG. 12 according to the fourth
embodiment. As is apparent from the drawing, the basic light emitting
module M08 and the adjusting light emitting module M09 need not be used,
and the number of types of light emitting modules can be reduced in
comparison with the fourth embodiment.

[0122] A liquid crystal display apparatus can be provided by using the
backlight system according to the embodiment in place of the backlight
system described in the fourth embodiment. Since the backlight system
according to the embodiment employs a method of controlling an LED
package different from that of the backlight system according to the
fourth embodiment, a control circuit needs to be changed.

[0123] More specifically, in the light emitting module unit included in
the backlight system according to the embodiment, all the LED packages on
the light emitting module unit are connected in series with each other
such that the LED packages on one light emitting module unit cannot be
independently driven. Therefore, when the backlight system is used as a
backlight system for a liquid crystal display apparatus, it is not
suitable for ON/OFF control of a backlight system using a local dimming
scheme in which a screen is divided into a plurality of display areas to
control a luminance of a backlight in units of the display areas, but is
suitable for a control scheme for a backlight system that uses a
conventional CCFL as a light source and in which an entire surface is lit
to perform display while adjusting transmittances of pixels of a liquid
crystal panel. The control scheme that lights an entire surface
advantageously has a control circuit that is simpler than that in the
local dimming scheme.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0124] The present invention can be used in the backlight apparatus for a
transmission display apparatus and, in particular, a backlight apparatus
that has a common module board to screen sizes to reduce the number of
types of constituent elements on a mount board.